The LoCA Life & Times

In Lodi, wine comes first. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Meet the passionate people behind our handcrafted wines and gnarly old vines.

January 15, 2015 |
Randy Caparoso

The lowdown on what’s happening during Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend!

Lodi wine and chocolate lovers at Macchia winery

Don't look now, but Lodi's Wine & Chocolate Weekend is just around the corner: coming up February 7 & 8, 2015 (Saturday/Sunday). Time's a'wastin', if you're still just thinking about it!

This will be the 18th annual celebration of Lodi's eminently approachable, luscious, juicy style of wines, showcased with a proliferation of complimentary chocolates, savory treats, and fountains of love, love, love. It has become the most popular weekend wine event in Lodi wine country, and for good reason: what better way to seal one's love and devotion to significant others, or whole groups of friends and family?

Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend, February 7 & 8

Over 50 Lodi wineries will be opening their doors to welcome you. Below you will find a rundown what most of the wineries are offering; and also, which ones are able to accommodate extra-large groups. Please note: because many of Lodi’s wineries are small, artisanal producers, some of them are unable to receive big groups or full-sized buses; although a few of them can by appointment only (contact information below).

As in the past, one lucky weekend ticket holder will discover a "Golden Ticket" in his/her complimentary chocolate treat, and win a Lodi Wine Country Getaway or one of over 100 additional prizes!

Tickets are $55 in advance and $65 at the door, which includes a Lodi Wine & Chocolate souvenir wine glass, a chocolate treat from Brix Chocolate, admission and wine and food tastings at all participating wineries. Tickets are valid both Saturday and Sunday.

All tickets are non-refundable; and non-drinking designated drivers are free of charge (as always, we remind you that fine wines are always best enjoyed with restraint or moderation).

Each participating winery’s planned activities and restrictions, with notations for those that are newly opened (!) or tasting rooms located within short walking distance (another great idea!) from each other in Downtown Lodi:

THE 2015 LODI WINE & CHOCOLATE WEEKENDPARTICIPATING WINERIES

Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend, February 7 & 8

ABUNDANCE VINEYARDSNo full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+(209) 334-0274 | abundancevineyards.comJoin us for an afternoon of music, wine, chocolate and fun! Bob Rawleigh will be crooning the classics of legendary greats like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, along with today’s favorites – Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. Enjoy barrel tasting with our winemaker Jim Yerkes. We will be serving our famous "Bacio Dolce" dessert wine brownies as well as a few other chocolate goodies.

Newly opened! - BARSETTI VINEYARDS
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
400 4th Street, Suite 150, Historic Old Town Galt, 95632
(209) 744-6062 | barsettivineyards.com
We are excited to participate in this year's Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend in our brand new tasting room in Historic Old Town Galt. We will be offering barrel tasting of our new Red Blend "Old Town Red,” music and entertainment from local artists, as well as scrumptious food pairings with chocolate port ice cream from our next door neighbor, The Velvet Grill and Creamery. Experience a small piece of the city of Galt's 8th annual Winter Bird Festival in our tasting room.

Downtown Lodi! – BENSON FERRY VINEYARDS (Pouring at LODI WINE CELLARS)
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
112 W. Pine Street, Lodi 95240
(209) 365-6622 | bensonferry.com
Join us to taste our award-winning wines and sample a selection of yummy chocolates. We have several wine brands under one roof for you to try. Take a break from the busy day and spend a few moments in our beautiful outdoor patio.

BOITANO FAMILY WINES (Located at TUSCAN WINERY VILLAGE)
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
12470 Locke Road, Lockeford 95237
(209) 727-3270 | boitanofamilywines.com
Take advantage of warehouse clearing prices! We will be offering some amazing closeout deals during 2015 Wine & Chocolate Weekend! We are one of Lodi's small, family-owned wineries offering handcrafted Italian varietals. For your tasting pleasure we will be pouring Barbera, Sangiovese, Old Vine Zinfandel, and tasty red blends. To go along with our yummy wines, we will be serving up mom's famous cheese balls and crackers and, of course, delicious chocolate treats.

BORRA VINEYARDS
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
1301 E. Armstrong Road, Lodi 95242
(209) 368-2446 | borravineyards.com
Borra Vineyards is nuts about Wine & Chocolate! You will be surrounded by nuts and chocolate from around the world, and don't be afraid to dive into our very own Chocolate Nut Shot (made with our Heritage Chocolate Sauce). Our award winning wines are the perfect match to make your visit complete. Come out and let us drive you nuts!

In Manteca!- DELICATO FAMILY VINEYARDS
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
12001 South Highway 99, Manteca 96336
(209) 824-3500 | dfvtastingroom.com
Stop here first and avoid the crowds! Pick up your wine glass, chocolate treat and wrist band. There is parking for cars and limos, easy freeway return and only 20 minutes from Lodi. Join us for a special wine tasting menu, savory munchies and chocolate!

Newly opened! – DURST WINERY
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
10173 East Acampo Road, Acampo 95220
(209) 601-1413 | durstwinery.com
Pleasure seekers deserve fine wine and a great time and Durst Winery is a must do! Come experience artisan wines, music, cooking demonstrations and chocolate of course! Hungry for French or craving Italian cuisine? Saturday at 1:00pm, renowned Chef Eleanor Tribetti will be taking us on a culinary adventure, demonstrating the fine art of Southern French cuisine. She will return on Sunday with an Italian surprise that is sure to delight your palate. Mouthwatering samples will be provided to pair with our wines. On Saturday, find yourself relaxing at our historic estate, park-like setting while listening to Delta Blues performed by none other than Charles Oriel and Julia Simon (better known as Chicken and Dumpling). On Sunday, rock the afternoon away with music by Stephanie D Trio. So come on over: Wine, chocolate, music and food are yours to indulge and revel in at the newly-opened Durst Winery.

FIELDS FAMILY WINES ESTATE WINERY
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
3803 E. Woodbridge Road, Acampo 95220
(209) 327-6306 | fieldsfamilywines.com
As a small, micro-size winery, we specialize in small lots of handcrafted wines. We are well-known for pairing wine and food at our events and Wine & Chocolate Weekend will be no exception. We are proud to once again partner with the Monterey Chocolate Company (winner of 2012 and 2013 Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America Award) to provide custom, handmade chocolates paired with award-winning Fields Family wines. We’re offering all guests a 15% discount towards wine purchases. Come visit the "family" and enjoy our great wines, wine and chocolate pairings, and beautiful grounds. We look forward to seeing you at Wine & Chocolate Weekend.

GRADY FAMILY VINEYARDS (Pouring at WOODBRIDGE UNCORKED)
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
18911 N. Lower Sacramento Road
(209) 365-7575 | gradywine.com
Join Grady Family Vineyards and five Indulge with boutique-style wine tasting from six wineries at one location! A variety of rich reds, crisp whites and flavored sparkling champagnes are sure to please your palate. Ticket holders will enjoy an All Weekend Wine Special – buy 1 bottle and your 2nd bottle is 25% off! We collaborated with the one and only Chocolate Factory in town to offer the ultimate chocolate experience! Your day will be even sweeter with decadent truffles, caramels and English toffee. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is also selling gourmet sweet treats to take home, including their famous Rocky Pop!

Downtown Lodi!- JEREMY WINE CO.
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
6 West Pine Street, Lodi 95240
(209) 367-3773 | jeremywineco.com
Come get your bottle of our famous Chocolate Port – this vintage is more chocolatey than ever! Perfect to share with your sweetie on Valentine's Day. Add a little spice with a "chocomale" (tamale with chocolate mole sauce) while listening to live music in the courtyard. A romantic way to spend the day at Jeremy Wine Company!

JESSIE’S GROVE WINERY
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
1973 W. Turner Road, Lodi 95242
(209) 368-0880 | jessiesgrovewinery.com
Visit Lodi's oldest vineyard and over 300 hundred acres of history – 6 generations of family planting their first grapes in 1886 and 1889 at Jessie's Grove Estate vineyard. Enjoy a themed event in the old barn with barrel tasting, food vendors and music for the weekend. Come experience history being shared from 4th generation Jessie all weekend. Special discounts will be offered for Lodi's Wine & Chocolate weekend only.

Downtown Lodi!- JESSIE’S GROVE AT OLDE ICE HOUSE CELLARS
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
27 E. Locust Street, Lodi, CA 95240
(209) 368-0880 | jessiesgrovewinery.com
Join Jessie's Grove Winery at the Old Ice House Cellars located in downtown Lodi under the big water tower. We will be offering barrel tasting and chocolate treats paired with our wines along with music in the background in a relaxed environment. We will be offering special discounts for Lodi Wine & Chocolate weekend only.

Kidder Family Winery

KIDDER FAMILY WINERY
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
17266 Hillside Drive, Lodi 95240
(209) 727-0728 | kidderwines.com
Take our sensory challenge! Guess each challenge correctly and you'll be automatically entered to wine a 3-pack of our award-winning wines. Drawing will take place on February 8th at 5pm and the winner does not need to be present to win! Sip through our award-winning wines while sampling chocolate and caramel kettle corn provided by Costa's Finest Kettle Corn (also for sale). Purchase wine by the glass or bottle while relaxing in our redwood grove.

KLINKER BRICK WINERY
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
15887 N. Alpine Road, Lodi 95240
(209) 333-1845 ext. 105 | klinkerbrickwinery.com
Come by and listen to the tunes of Joe Barretta from 11:30am – 3:30pm. We will have Truffle Gateau on site both days serving up delicious chocolate and Tin Roof BBQ serving up amazing BBQ for purchase.

LANGETWINS FAMILY WINERY &aamp; VINEYARDS
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
1525 E. Jahant Road, Acampo 95220
(209) 334-9780 | langetwins.com
Great wines, food, people and art! LangeTwins Family is pleased to present two talented women artists as part of our Wine and Chocolate weekend. Kathy Womack hails from Dallas, Texas and will fill the cellar with an exhibition of her Wine and Women series of sketches. She will have originals and poster copies to purchase as a perfect Valentine’s gift for your lady. Costumes and fashion is her original focus, but she is developing a unique spin on women with the 'bella muertos' design. And Nicole Patel, nationally recognized chocolatier of Delysia Chocolates from Austin, Texas has partnered with LangeTwins and will sample and feature truffles made with our Midnight Reserve and Centennial Zinfandel wines. Nicole has been a focus of articles written in Wine Spectator and The Wall Street Journal. Both ladies will be on site for conversations, autograph signing and of course, sharing a glass of wine. And back by popular demand, LangeTwins will continue with the tradition of hot, delicious Brie and chocolate Panini's with a pinch of fresh basil. We’re offering multiple tasting bars at our state-of-the-art facility, plenty of parking, and many family members on hand to taste you through our award-winning wines. Join us!

Lodi Vintners

LODI VINTNERS
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
3750 East Woodbridge Road, Acampo 95220
(209) 368-2019 | lodivintners.com
Join us at Lodi Vintners for a weekend of wine, music and great chocolate inspired food. Check out all of our planned festivities at lodivintners.com or like us on Facebook.

M2 WINES
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
2900 E. Peltier Road, Acampo, CA 95220
(209) 339-1071 | m2wines.com
What goes better with m2 red wine than a little pasta? Add in a dash of chocolate and it's kismet! We are very excited to bring to you fresh pasta which is sure to please even the most discriminating Paisano palates to pair with our m2 wine selections of Lodi Zin and Tempranillo. Susan Korec, owner and chef of The Pasta Queen in Gold River, will be providing delectable samples of fresh handmade ravioli. Encased in semisweet chocolate pasta, the ravioli will be filled with ricotta cheese and bittersweet chocolate shavings and served with a hazelnut aged balsamic glaze and topped with bits of salty pancetta. This provides a sweet and salty taste to pair with our delectable Lodi Zins. She is also planning to serve savory beef and pork meatballs in a smoky chipotle chocolate sauce. This is a savory and spicy taste to pair with our spice-loving Tempranillo. Finally, she will also prepare a tomato bisque soup with chocolate balsamic vinegar-drizzled croutons. Pasta Queen will also have an amazing array of fresh sauces and homemade pastas on hand, available for you to purchase. As they say in Italian: Mangia bene (eat well)!

MCCAY CELLARS
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
1370 E. Turner Road, Lodi 95240
(209) 368-9463 | mccaycellars.com
McCay Cellars Presents: "Wine & Chocolate Weekend"… Don't let the weekend pass you by without stopping by the Palate Room! Enjoy live music by Big Booty Bob, Chocolate/Zinfandel Rub BBQ, chocolate paring with the NEW release of 2011 Contention and barrel tasting. "Get lucky" by winning our special raffle and take home a large format bottle to share or savor all on your own. We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces and can't wait to spread the love!

Downtown Lodi! – MICHAEL DAVID WINERY (Pouring at CELLARDOOR)
21 N. School Street, Lodi 95240
(209) 368-7384 | michaeldavidwinery.com
It starts with a kiss and ends with LUST! Doing what we do best, we'll be featuring our seductive reds along with some tempting treats. Come experience the award winning wines of Michael David Winery at cellardoor, located in the heart Downtown Lodi.

Newly opened!- OAK FARM VINEYARDS
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
23627 N. DeVries Road, Lodi 95240
(209) 365-6565 | oakfarmvineyards.com
Oak Farm Vineyards will be offering delicious wines and music from a favorite local Lodi band, Clerical Estate. As for the chocolate, we have partnered up with "Fab Delights" to once again bring out their amazing handmade chocolate truffles which are not only tasty, but are beautiful too!

Downtown Lodi!- ONE WAY WINERY
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
25 N. School Street, Lodi, 95240
(209) 365-4081 | onewaywinery.com
In our Downtown Lodi location within the Visit Lodi! building, we will be serving artisanal sausages and handmade Cabernet Sauvignon chocolate fudge truffles. On Saturday, we will have live music by Kevin O'Connell.

Downtown Lodi! – RIAZA WINES
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
20 W. Elm Street, Lodi 95240
(209) 625-1103 | riazawines.com
Have you ever wanted to run with the bulls but couldn't make it all the way to Pamplona? Well here's your chance (sort of). For this year's Wine & Chocolate Weekend, we'll have a life-size back drop of a street in Pamplona's old town (complete with bulls and other runners) that you can snap a "selfie" in front of. Trust us, your friends won't know the difference! And after you've worked up an appetite trying not to get gored by the bulls, you can nosh on some of our famous dark chocolate and goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon (served with a dark chocolate adobo dipping sauce).

ROBERT LAUCHLAND VINEYARDS (Pouring at CECCHETTI OLIVE OIL)
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
511 West Sargent Road, Lodi 95242 | (209) 210-7019
Come sip some of our delicious handcrafted wines at a beautiful destination! Along with samples of our wines and wines by Barsetti Vineyards, Cecchetti Olive Oil will be offering food from Stevie Steamers and Lockeford Sausage, tri tip sandwiches and fruit bowls from Catering by Sandra, Minestrone soup with fresh bread, and plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and water. For the early birds, there will be delicious breakfast burritos! There will also be a live guitarist and accordion player, an olive oil tasting bar and more offerings from over 35 wonderful vendors. And be sure to visit Chocolate Row! Stay and relax a bit by the property’s 118-year-old barn or walk among the Olive Orchard and vineyard with your Valentine.

SPENKER WINERY
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
17303 N. DeVries Road
(209) 367-0467 | spenkerwinery.com
We invite you to come, sit and sip a bit! Gather with your friends around a table and visit with the owners/winemakers while sampling wines from our Certified Green (Sustainable) Estate vineyard. New release this weekend: 2012 Estate Zinfandel! This Zinfandel is full-bodied, oaky and gently spicy and is perfect alone or with a great meal. Be among the first to try it! Enjoy a Valentine’s special discount of 25% on a purchase of 2 or more bottles of our much loved Morning Glory (Muscat Alexandria)!

Newly opened!- STAMA WINERY
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
17521 N. Davis Road, Lodi 95240
(408) 464-6923 | stamawinery.com
Come and visit us at our new location, 17521 North Davis Road in Lodi. We will be pouring all of our wines, including our new release – Zany Zin 2013 vintage. We will have complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries and decadent chocolate brownies to pair with our wines. The winemaker and owner will be present for bottle signing and we will also be hosting live music for the event. See you at Stama!

TOASTED TOAD CELLARS
Appointment required for full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
21 E. Elm Street, Lodi 95240
(209) 400-4040 | toastedtoadcellars.com
For a toadilly awesome time stop by and try some creative food pairings with a tantalizing variety of our wines ranging from a voluptuous Viognier to robust reds. No doubt something chocolate will be served with one of our Port-style dessert wines. Hop on in and enjoy yourself at our pad.

UPSTREAM WINES BY WATTS WINERY
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
17036 N. Locust Tree Road, Lodi 95240
(209) 368-2974 | upstreamwines.com
Join us at Upstream at Watts Winery to celebrate Valentine's Day Mardi Gras style. We will be offering Valentine's candies and Cajun-style food bites as well as King Cupcakes with a Royal Baby Prize. Enjoy live music from ZOOM (Zydeco On Our Minds) on Saturday from noon to 4pm and be sure to have a souvenir photo taken by Tierney Foto. Take advantage of incredible case discounts and play games for additional discounts. For those with bigger appetites, a food truck will be on site offering delicious fare for an additional charge.

VAN RUITEN FAMILY WINERY & VINEYARDS
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
340 W. Highway 12, Lodi 95242
(209) 334-5722 | vrwinery.com
Visit Van Ruiten's Barrel Room for our chocoholic overload! We're here to show you why everyone loves Van Ruiten s'more! We'll whisk you away on a chocolate journey with custom chocolate macarons made with Van Ruiten wine (prepared by Macaronage Macarons of Stockton) and "You had me at Merlot" and "Living in Zin" cupcakes made with VR's reserve Merlot and Old Vine Zin (prepared by Cupcake Craving of Sacramento). Be sure to dip into our Double Chocolate Fountain Station and S'mores Bar, both piled high with an array of candies for dipping and melting. And don't miss your chance to sip on our signature VR wines or grab a pink "cosmo-rita" made with our fruit-forward Pinot Grigio. For larger appetites, belly up to one of our favorite food trucks for savory bites galore! We're setting the mood with live music by Crosstown 5 who is guaranteed to bring down the house. For you star-crossed lovers, hop into our Van Ruiten "Kissing Booth" for some photo booth opportunities to document your journey. Don't miss out on s'more Van Ruiten fun!

Viaggio Estate & Winery

VIAGGIO ESTATE & WINERY
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
100 E. Taddei Road, Acampo 95220
(209) 333-0431 | viaggiowinery.com
Come and join us at Viaggio Estate and Winery and enjoy our famous house-made chocolate and nut fudge! Enjoy original, live music played by local bands. Our hours are 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. We will be giving out free samples of our delicious fudge all day!

VICARMONT VINEYARDS & WINERY
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
16475 N. Locust Tree Road, Lodi 95240
(209) 481-3386 | vicarmont.com
Vicarmont Winery is Putting On the Ritz with a little jazz music by saxophone player DeJay Mullins. Come out and join us for a roaring twenties party in our Speak Easy Wine Parlor for some sweets by My Chocolate Affair to pair with all of our delicious wines. The famous 1252 Wood Fired Pizza will be back again to treat all of our guests with a taste of their amazing pizza.

WEIBEL FAMILY VINEYARDS
No full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+
13 N. School Street, Lodi 95240
(209) 370-6013 | weibel.com
Nothing says Love like Chocolate and BUBBLES! Weibel Family Vineyards has them both! Join us for a dazzling display of our sparkling wines and delectable handmade chocolate treats. We will also be serving wine ice cream, non-sweet treats, non-alcohol for the Designated Drivers, and have plenty of Valentine's jewelry to browse for that special someone. Come by and see our new tasting room in Downtown Lodi!

WOODBRIDGE UNCORKED
Full-sized buses / groups of 20-40+ accepted
18911 N. Lower Sacramento Road, Woodbridge 95258
(209) 365-7575 | woodbridgeuncorked.com
Indulge in boutique-style wines produced by six wineries (Akin Cellars, Brave Horse Winery, Grady Family Winery, Maley Brothers, St. Sophia, and Weibel Family Vineyards) in our Woodbridge wine bar! A variety of rich reds, crisp whites and flavored sparkling champagnes are sure to please your palate. Ticket holders will enjoy an All Weekend Wine Special: Buy 1 bottle and your 2nd bottle is 25% off! We collaborated with the one and only Chocolate Factory (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, that is) in town to offer the ultimate chocolate experience. Your day will be even sweeter with decadent truffles, caramels and English toffee. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory will also be selling gourmet sweet treats to take home, including their famous Rocky Pop!